Be Fascinated

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Chapter 34

“You said the Empress was here?”

At Claude’s words, Philia nodded her head. Philia had a usual expression on her face.

“What did she say?”

That voice was more ferocious. Philia saw how uncomfortable Claude was.

“She was just telling me what it was like outside.”

“…….”

“And how happy she is to be with your brother.”

“…….”

“She said she’s happy even if she’s locked up in the Imperial Palace.”

“……”

“So I was a little curious.”

It coincided with the story Amelia had told Claude. Claude’s anger subsided when he read Amelia’s letter that she had visited the mansion.

“…Why that woman, for nothing?”

“I was curious.”

His brother, Carlos, was aware of Philia’s existence. And it wouldn’t be strange for Amelia to know as well. The Empress had never done anything in particular. She was just doing her job.

That such an Empress would actively break into the house of the one who ‘conceded’ the throne, no, Claude.

“From now on, she’ll often invite me to chat.”

“…… .”

“Your Highness, I want to go.”

Philia said. Claude looked at her face. After a long time, her eyes had changed.

“I want to go.”

“…….”

“Can’t I?”

“…….”

“It is said that there are many pretty things in the Imperial Palace.”

If he declined here, Philia’s eyes would lose their focus again. Claude was plagued with internal conflict.

In fact, Amelia and Philia were in the same situation.

Amelia, who was imprisoned in the Imperial Palace due to Carlos’s obsession, and Philia, who lived in this mansion because of Claude.

Yes. There’s no way that Amelia would do any nonsense. She was the first to recognize that she was like Philia. She must have been intrigued by her personality and that she was a person similar to herself.

People who are close get affected. If Philia had been influenced by Amelia and smiled at him like her, it was something he had hoped for.

“Alright.”

It was a time of some turning point. Philia’s eyes widened at Claude’s decision. A smile appeared on her face for an instant and then disappeared.

Bianca frowned. The urgent steps were clearly heading towards one place.

“Hanngh!”

The amorous sound that could not be hidden leaked through the cracks in the room. It was a sound that should never come out of this place.

“How many people know?”

“It hasn’t spread yet.”

Bianca let out a sigh. It is fortunate that the rumors did not spread to the high priests who were aiming for him.

She entered the room without knocking. She frowned at the peculiar smell mixed with humidity.

“Reverend Irik!”

Bianca looked at the one who committed the mortal sin as she shouted. He climbed on top of the woman lying on her back, and the man who was riding her was moving his back like a beast. The heavy moan of a woman resounded through the room.

Bianca and the priests behind her also hardened their faces at the obscene appearance.

High Priest Irik was a renowned individual who had a reputation of great faith. Even the priests, who were his adversaries, acknowledged his faith.

Irik has always been ascetic and faithful. But, how did this happen now? Rumors that he had suddenly fallen to madness did not appear to be false.

“High Priest! What are you doing now!”

“AAHHNGH!”

High Priest Irik continued to hold the woman. That blatant entanglement was the first thing Bianca had ever seen. Her mind went numb.

“Hnnnngh!”

Who would have thought of bringing a woman into the temple and having an affair? And a high priest, too!

Irik immediately laid down on the woman, grabbed her, crushed her, and let out his last breath. The man’s thrusting following his instinct was terrifying.

“Haa, haa…”

Irik took his last breath and pulled the woman away from his body. He put on his clothes.

The woman who was doing this act with him also quickly got dressed. Bianca recognized that the woman was a pale blonde. She was momentarily surprised—it was not Philia. It was just a prostitute who resembled her.

“I never told you to come in.”

Irik said in a cool voice. His face, which had not lost the afterglow of the love affair, was somehow erotic. But his eyes were darkened.

“I can’t believe you held a woman here, what are you thinking?”

The man laughed dryly at Bianca’s scolding.

“Beasts once clung to each other on the altar that God sees. Am I so strange, Saint?”

Bianca looked at Irik and frowned. Seeing Claude and Philia doing that in the temple seemed to have left a huge scar on the High Priest.

“But it’s not like this.”

“Then you can excommunicate me according to the rules here.”

Irik didn’t look too scared. Seeing that blank, sharp brow, Bianca let out a breath mixed with sighs.

Irik was a high priest who had a lot of support from young priests. Because of his image and unique faithfulness, he has gained a lot of support from the commoners.

How could she drive him out?

Why was he putting himself through such an ordeal. It was like a mountain beyond a mountain. With one gesture, she sent the priests and the prostitute out.

“Answer me, why are you doing this?”

“I just decided not to hold back either.”

“What do you mean hold back? What?”

“Following your instincts, like that prodigal, depraved woman.”

Looking into his eyes of despair, Bianca seemed to know how the man felt.

“Come on, get a hold of yourself!”

Bianca exclaimed.

“It’s my fault, but everyone here is crazy! I wonder why you don’t reflect on yourself and only blame others!”

They were truly pathetic. This was the reason why she didn’t feel sorry for them even when she became a saint.

She had witnessed the cowardice of these men. She watched closely to know how far that endless cowardice and self-rationalization went.

“It was you who deceived Miss Philia in the first place! You were the one who couldn’t trust and protect her until the end!”

“…….”

“For you to feel betrayed, don’t you think she also felt the same way?! Have you even apologized!”

“Apologize, why me? I didn’t even bring Philia, so why?”

“That’s why Philia hates you! That’s how it’s come to this!”

Bianca exclaimed.

“You’re really more cowardly than that crazy Grand Duke!”

“Don’t talk to me as if you know anything. You think you’re pure?!”

Irik shouted threateningly, but Bianca didn’t blink. As always, she expressed her contempt with an elegant expression.

“It’s okay because I know what I’m lacking in, but what you did is wrong, High Priest. You should reflect on yourself. Does the servant of God have no reflection on himself?”

Bianca continued.

“You just took a girl who didn’t know anything and played with her like a doll. It’s like saying that the doll is out of the mold!”

“…….”

“And as for Grand Duke Piast, if you know that the madman had forced Philia to be taken away, you have snapped to your senses right then.”

“Shut up!”

“Did you worship the saint or did you like Miss Philia? Make up your mind first. If this is what happened because you saw the woman you loved sleeping with another man, I will give you sympathy!”

Bianca poured out the words Philia couldn’t bear to say. Seeing the man whose expression was distorted as if he was about to cry, Bianca said coldly with a sneer.

“You’re a coward. You blindly resented that woman.”

Hearing Bianca’s abusive remarks, Irik put on a blank expression on his face.

“It’s said that it’s common for priests to do what you just did once. Because you are a young priest, let’s keep this under wraps.”

Bianca spoke quietly, placed her hand on Irik’s shoulder and walked outside. Irik clasped his head.

“Aaaaahh!”

Irik let out a sad cry. Then, who should be the person to be truly blamed? He didn’t feel the need to blame himself.

Because he was cowardly.

He told himself that he was a victim.

So, Irik thought of the person he should be resentful of first.

“Claude, Piast…….”

He clenched his teeth. Yes, if there is anyone to blame, it was that bastard. That bastard was the culprit to all this.

“…….”

Why didn’t he think of that sooner? Why, why, did he only resent Philia? That bastard seduced Philia, and it would be over when that bastard was gone.

If that bastard is gone, then Philia…

“Like how it was before, you can come back.”

He clasped his head and murmured. For a moment, it seemed as if his hazy head had returned to clarity. Give back what has been done. His eyes shone grimly.

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